Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You - ANTI 86788-2

I thought the enigmatic RS would have reviewed this as he’s a big fan of Ms Holland and introduced me to her music but he’s clearly too busy reliving his mis-spent youth. Musically, that is. For newcomers, I suppose I should start with her voice, which I know some find irritating. The unkind might describe it as fey or overly winsome but you could equally describe it as beguiling and, anyway, if you feel her voice lacks substance, the songs more than make up for it.

The first track, Crush In The Ghetto, is a pop ballad describing how her neighbourhood seems to be transformed after a night with new lover. There is one dubious line about ants and pants, but we’ll pass over that. At the other end of the affair, Please Don’t ends with the line “don’t tell ’em what you know about me,” a common fear at the end of intimacy and neatly summed up. In between, she swings from blues to country through jazz, with a variety of accompaniment from baritone horn to cello. It’s a feast.

Strangely Strange but Oddly Normal - An Island Anthology (Island 9822950)

Back in the very early 70s teenage boys were often to be seen walking around ostentatiously carrying "samplers" of island records - the two best known beng El Pea and Bumpers. Indeed Bumpers was my introduction to "progressive" music. The best of five years of island records is now available on this anthology - and may have been for some time but i have only just discovered it How the years melt away. It was a remarkable five year period from 1967 to 1972 showcasing new acts like Free, Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention, John and Beverley Martyn, Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, ELP, Traffic, and others less well remembered like Dr Strangely Strange, Quintessance, Clouds and more. WIth 48 songs this is a generous collection which recaptures the time admirably - and much of it still stands up well (although may be propped up by nostalgia.) It was a period of innocence and creativity, long past, but fondly remembered. If you grew your hair 35 years ago, wore loons and quivered when Sandy Denny sang, indulge yourself in this.